A year ago, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert watched with admiration as Forever Young outdueled Romantic Warrior in a breathtaking finish at the $20 million Saudi Cup.
Baffert’s back in Riyadh with a pair of horses (Nysos and Nevada Beach) ready to take on the defending champion in Saturday’s seventh running of the world’s richest thoroughbred race (post time 12:30 p.m. ET).
The trainer, believe it or not, is seeking his first win in the Saudi Cup, a 1 1/8-mile test at King Abdulaziz Racetrack now in its seventh year. Baffert is 0-for-5 – third with Mucho Gusto in 2020, second with Charlatan in 2021, second with Country Grammer in 2022 and 2023 and fourth with National Treasure in 2024.
“I thought I could win it before, but the thing about the Saudi Cup, every time I watch it you think you are home free but all of a sudden they show the 100-meter mark and boy, I lost so much money after that 100-meter mark!” Baffert, who has won nearly every other race imagineable, including the Kentucky Derby (G1) six times.
“That 100-meter mark is a killer for me. We are always ahead at the 100 meters and then I just think uh-oh, this is not good, we’ve still got 100 meters to go. We’ve come agonizingly close.”
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi smiled after he drew gate 6 for Forever Young (2-1 odds) during Wednesday’s post-position draw. The mid-pack departure under Ryusei Sakai seems favorable for the 5-year-old closer who relishes these challenges. However, the two-time Saudi Cup winning trainer did say he’s feeling the pressure to win again.
“I think six is a good number,” Yahagi said. “We don’t have to change anything with tactics. Honestly, I feel a lot of pressure on my shoulders bringing a defending champion, but Forever Young doesn’t feel any pressure at all.”
Nysos (3-1 odds) drew an outside gate 12 and is likely the top threat to upend Forever Young. Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Nysos has won 7-of-8 with a second-place finish. Eclipse Award winning jockey Flavien Prat has the call.
Baffert’s other entry is Nevada Beach (9-1 odds), who drew gate 7. Nevada Beach will be ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., and comes into the race off a win in the Native Diver Stakes (G3) and a runner-up to Nysos in the Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2) on Dec. 28.
It will take a supreme effort from either Nysos or Nevada Beach to pull off what would be a huge upset considering Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) Forever Young has been nearly unbeatable.
The 5-year-old Forever Young, with record earnings of $19,358,590, is 2-for-2 over the track with a win in the 2023 Saudi Derby and last year’s thriller in the Saudi Cup. The Japan-bred sensation has won 10 of 13 races with three third-place finishers.
“The anti-clockwise track and the long home straight really suit him in Saudi Arabia and Sakai knows everything about him. Their partnership is very reliable.”
Baffert’s goal during the gate draw was not to get saddled with the inside post.
“I’d rather be on the outside than the inside,” Baffert said. after drawing the wide gate for Nysos. “As long as the horse shows up that is more important. I think he is a really good horse and has always shown brilliance, he’s a trier and knows where the wire is. From the outside he will have a clear run.
“Gate seven is good for Nevada Beach, too. We just didn’t want to be in the one-hole.’’
Luxor Cafe (20-1 odds), who drew gate 10 for trainer Noriyuki Hori, gives Japan another threat in the Saudi Cup. The 4-year-old qualified for the 2025 Kentucky Derby via the Japan Road to the Derby series but ran a disappointing 12th. In his most recent race, he ran 15th in the Champions Cup (G1) but won a Grade 3 in Japan prior to that race.
Jockey Joao Moreira simply hopes Luxor Cafe can deliver a competitive effort.
“He’s done enough to deserve a ticket into that race,” Moreira said. “I rode his full-brother Cafe Pharoah when he ran very well in the Saudi Cup ... Forever Young being there makes it one of the toughest dirt races in the world, maybe the toughest, because what Forever Young has done is amazing. He’s the best dirt horse in the world.”
Sunrise Zipangu (35-1 odds) starts from gate 1 for Kyoko Maekawa – Japan’s first licensed female trainer -- and gives the country another contender.
In addition to the Baffert duo, the U.S. also will be represented by Rattle N Roll (40-1) for trainer Kenny McPeek, Banishing (30-1) for trainer David Jacobson and Bishops Bay (7-1) for trainer Brad Cox.
The winner’s share of the $20 million Saudi Cup is $10 million, with $3.5 million to the runner-up, $2 million for third, $1.5 million for fourth, $1 million for fifth. Even the six-10 finishers make some dough -- $600,000 for sixth place, $500,000 for seventh, $400,000 for eighth, $300,000 for ninth, and $200,000 for 10th.
It is illegal to bet on horse racing, or any sport, in Saudi Arabia. All forms of gambling are prohibited. While there is no legal betting on-site at the Saudi Cup, international, non-resident bettors can place wagers via online racebooks.
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
